Improvement in card-envelopes



UETTED STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ROWLAND, OF WASHINGTON, D. C., ASSIGNOR TO JAMES A. MCCREA, AUGUSTUS L. MOCREA, AND HARRY COX, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARD-ENVELOPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,818, dated August 8, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, CHARLES RowLAND, of Vashing-ton, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Card Envelopes, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompan ying drawing.

The invention relates to that class of envelopes having a rigid or stiif back, to which is secured a flap to cover the inside surface thereof. The object of the invention is to furnish a surface that can be written upon without an underlying support or while held in the hand and then protected by a flap so gununed or otherwise secured to the card as that when sealed it covers the face of the card.

Figure 1 represents thetlap, gummed as shown; Fig. 2, the card and tlap attached.

Ain the accompanying drawing is the back ofthe envelope, which should be of card-board or any other suitable material oi' sufficient rigidity. B is the iiap on every side, with folds Z, each of which is guinmed on the inside. That portion ofthe flap B between the folds Z should correspond with the surface to be covered thereby. One of the folds Z is secured to so much ofthe outside or back of the card A as it will cover, the

edge ofthe card bein g placed in the crease of the fold.

The desired communication being written or printed upon the inside surface of the card, close otherwise.

same, then moisten the remaining folds and seal them to the back of the card. rlhe address may be written or printed and the postage-stamp affixed upon the outside of the iiap B, which protects the face of the card from abrasion and at the same time conceals the communication. The ilap and back maybe made in one piece, either by so preparing the paper while being manufactured as to give a proper rigidity to the back, allowing the Hap to be made thinner and iiexible or by stiifening the back by the use of chemicals or The parts may also be connected by rubber bands, eyelets, or rivets, or the flap may be secured to the back by splitting the lower edge ofthe latter and inserting the fold Z or a narrow strip thereof in such opening and then securing` these parts together. The back of the card A may be used for advertisement or business-card, the folds Z being so formed as to leave a sufficient space between them when sealed for that purpose.

VVha-t I claim as my invention7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

rlhe combination and arrangement of a stiff or rigid back, A, with a exible flap, B, substantially as herein described and' shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvements in letter-card envelopes, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand and seal thisSth day of March, 1871.

CHARLES ROIVLAND.

Witnesses N. F. ENGLIsH, F. M. PERRY. 

